Pitt Football: Three Charged Players Will Play vs. Notre Dame
By Matt Shetler
Three Pitt football players, including starting running back Ray Graham, will play on Saturday against No. 3 Notre Dame despite being charged with simple assault and conspiracy in connection with an incident last month involving three other students.
Graham, junior wide receiver Devin Street and redshirt freshman defensive back Lafayette Pitts have denied they were involved in a confrontation with a student who told police he was hit in the head by one of the players.
October 27, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Devin Street (15) takes the field before playing the Temple Owls at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Panthers won 47-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE
As a result, Panthers’ head coach Paul Chryst has allowed the trio to travel with the team and all three will play against the Irish.
The players were not arrested but have been mailed summonses to appear in Pittsburgh Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on the charges Jan. 9.
According to school spokesman E.J. Borghetti (via Associated Press) the players have offered to speak with police but have not been questioned or received any court documents.
"”We take matters of player discipline very seriously and will continue to cooperate with any investigation,” Borghetti said. ”However, we will not, and hope others will not, rush to judgment on these misdemeanor allegations. All three players will remain active members of our program while we gain more clarity on this situation.”"
Graham is the Panthers leading rusher with 622 yards and seven touchdowns.
Street is the team’s leading receiver with 50 catches for 695 yards and four scores and Pitts is a quality defensive player and is also the team’s top kick-returner.